Spicy Keto Korean Ground Beef with Cucumber Salad

Introduction

If you’re looking for a bold, satisfying, and low-carb meal that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, Spicy Keto Korean Ground Beef with Cucumber Salad is the answer. This dish delivers fiery, umami-packed Korean-inspired ground beef paired with a cool, tangy cucumber salad for a delicious contrast that’s hard to resist. Quick to prepare and easy to scale, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner that will impress everyone at the table—even those not following a keto diet.

Why Spicy Keto Korean Ground Beef Is a Crowd Pleaser

The star of this recipe is the savory-sweet beef, infused with gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), ginger, garlic, and a splash of sesame oil. Served alongside a refreshing cucumber salad, every bite balances heat, protein, and crunch—without the carbs of traditional rice dishes. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a fuss-free, flavor-forward meal that comes together with minimal prep and offers restaurant-worthy results.

Perfecting the Korean-Inspired Beef

Start by browning high-quality ground beef and infusing it with a simple, spicy Korean-inspired sauce. Garlic, ginger, coconut aminos (or soy sauce if not strictly keto), and a hint of sweetener ensure all the classic flavors—while gochugaru brings smoky heat. Simmer until the beef is caramelized and the sauce is thick. For variety, you can use ground chicken or turkey.

Building a Refreshing Cucumber Salad

The cucumber salad adds brightness and crunch, lightening up the richness of the beef. Simply toss thinly sliced cucumbers with rice vinegar, sesame oil, salt, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Refrigerate for 10 minutes so the flavors meld. This cooling element tempers the heat of the beef and rounds out the meal.

Serving Suggestions for a Balanced Keto Meal

Spoon the spicy beef over a bed of cauliflower rice or crisp romaine for a satisfying, low-carb “rice bowl.” Top with the cucumber salad, a sprinkle of scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. For extra richness, a soft-boiled egg or a dollop of gochujang mayo makes a delicious garnish.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 4 generous servings. Each serving contains about 390 calories, 25g fat, 8g net carbs, and 26g protein—perfect for staying keto-focused while enjoying big flavors.

Spicy Keto Korean Ground Beef with Cucumber Salad (Recap)

Combining quick-cooking, spicy beef with a crisp, cooling cucumber salad, this meal brings flavor, balance, and nutrition to your keto menu. With its simple prep and big flavors, it’s a weeknight hero and an impressive dish for sharing.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined keto meal planning.

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cucumber Salad: In a bowl, toss sliced cucumber with rice vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add scallions and sesame seeds, toss again, and chill in the fridge while you cook the beef.
2. Brown the Ground Beef: Heat remaining 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger; sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add ground beef to the pan. Cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until deeply browned, about 5–7 minutes.
4. Make the Sauce: Stir in coconut aminos, gochugaru, sweetener, and remaining salt. Continue to cook until the liquid reduces and beef is well-glazed, another 2–3 minutes.
5. Assemble the Bowl: Serve beef hot over cauliflower rice or lettuce. Top with cucumber salad, extra scallions, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is ideal for prepping in advance—both the spicy ground beef and the cucumber salad store well, making it easy to assemble lunches or quick dinners all week. Save and schedule this recipe in CookifyAI to plan your week and generate automated, consolidated shopping lists.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across all your meals
– Organizes shopping lists by store section, minimizing grocery run time
– Prevents duplicate purchases and missing ingredients
– Makes meal prep more efficient and stress-free

Pro tip: Planning multiple keto meals? Schedule recipes to see overlapping ingredients, so you buy just what you need—saving money and reducing food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes